Wilda Phyllis Chandley

Wilda Phyllis Studebaker was born on Veteranís Day, 1924 with her twin brother Willard. Each weighed only 2 Ω pounds so their daddy put them in a basket with a mesh covering to keep curious people from touching his fragile babies. In order to get help with the babies, her dad and mom moved the tiny babies to Keystone so her grandmother and a nurse could help take care of them. Both children survived and were followed by five siblings. Around the time of their first birthday, they began to travel around Oklahoma and Texas as her dad worked as a pipe fitter in the oil fields. She graduated from Keystone High School in 1944. She lettered in basketball and was active in the schoolís clubs and activities. She was beautiful, smart, talented and well liked. Being the oldest daughter, Wilda grew to become a hard worker and assisted with the care of the family. She learned to cook, can, sew, take care of her siblings and help on the farm. In 1951, she married Elmer Chandley and they moved to the ranch he owned in Keota, Oklahoma. In order to be closer to their families, they moved to a farm on the Southeast side of Cleveland in 1952. They built barns, bought new farm implements, planted wheat and alfalfa and a big garden. They raised cattle and white leghorn chickens. Wilda was a founding member of Western Heights Baptist Church in 1958. She became active in the church as a Sunday School teacher, treasurer, Girls Auxiliary leader, Womenís Missionary Union member, Vacation Bible School leader and a cook at Falls Creek youth camp and Camp Lela. She cooked and delivered food to thousands of people of Western Heights Church, surrounding communities and Cleveland. She particularly liked to take care of the desserts and slice the pies. She was member of the Vida de Casa Homemaking Club and entered many items in the county fair in the categories of canning, cookies and sewing. She was pleased to win many ribbons. She served as a Pink Lady volunteer at the Cleveland Hospital and as an election official in Cleveland. Her last paid job was last Tuesday when she performed her duties during the voting process in Cleveland. She was fearless. Elmer and Wilda drove to Alaska in one of campers built by Elmer. When they approached a part of the Alaskan Highway that was rough and unpaved, she told Elmer ìGo on, Elmer. Donít turn back. We have come this far we are going to see it all.î She survived colon cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. She trusted her Lord to give her strength. Wilda lived on the same land in Cleveland since 1951. She got her wish to never leave this property until her death. On Saturday night, she primed her coffee pot and rolled her hair in anticipation of attending Sunday School. She talked with her oldest daughter Sharon and told her that she was going to bed. She had a plane ticket for a trip on Thursday with her youngest daughter Janet. She went to bed on Saturday evening and woke in heaven on Sunday, October 18, 2009. We all will miss her. We will long to have another conversation and another laugh and another good time and another good desert or another pickled beet with her. But she was called Home without any suffering so we have to rejoice for good fortune. She is survived by her two daughters, Sharon and Janet and their husbands, two sisters Lawana and Molly and two brothers, Jack and Bob. She was proceeded to heaven by her husband Elmer and two brothers, Willard and Richard.